THE dilapidation of a primary school in Zimbabwe has pushed Nowra’s Allan Chidziva to help make a change.
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Mr Chidziva’s hometown village, where the St Francis Hudebwe Primary School is located, caters for around 500 children and was built in the 1960s. It has had little maintenance since then.
“Most of the facilities are in bad shape,” he said.
“I obviously cannot solve all of the problems, but I had thought it would be a good idea to at least help fix critical things like toilets, water and windows.
“I’m hoping to host a fund-raiser to provide funds for fixing issues at the school.”
The school system was established in the 1920s by the Anglican Church and having worked at the school in the 1980s Mr Chidziva said it had a good reputation with students producing good results.
“Over the years the school has deteriorated due to many reasons, the main one being the political and economic turmoil the country has suffered over the last 15 years,” he said.
“The school faces many challenges, including an old pit toilet that is on the verge of flooding and poses a serious health risk for the children and teachers at the school.
“The school also lacks a clean water source. The nearest borehole is two kilometres away.
“Nearly all classrooms have shattered windows making it uncomfortable for children during winter and the rainy seasons, resulting in increased absences.”
Mr Chidziva said classroom furniture was old and termite-ridden.
“Due to neglect and lack of investment by the government over the past two decades, the school is poorly resourced,” he said.
“Children in the school share one textbook at a ratio of one to eight.
“The school is also in need of basic sports equipment such as footballs and netballs.”
Mr Chidziva said like many other village schools in Zimbabwe, nearly half of the children at St Francis Hudebwe Primary School are orphans due to AIDS. Some of them walk up to seven kilometres to and from school.
“The school has a multitude of challenges and it is my wish that I could possibly help in addressing at least one or two of the problems,” he said.
“My goal is to raise some money to take with me on my visit to Zimbabwe at the end of June 2015 and I will endeavour to provide ongoing support in the coming years to help address the other issues.
“I am therefore kindly appealing for donations for this cause.”
Mr Chidziva said with the money he raises he will build two pit toilets for boys and girls, drill a borehole for the school, furnish classrooms, refurbish broken windows, doors and floors, acquire reading resources and sports equipment such as footballs, netballs and uniforms for the school.
For inquiries or to make a donation contact Allan Chidziva on 0406 938 169 or email chidsall@hotmail.com.